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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Wednesday, September 6, 2017
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ILOILO – This province is not yet totally free from illegal gambling, admitted Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, provincial police director.
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) recently declared the province free from illegal gambling but clarified to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) yesterday that this status was true only from July 27 to the last week of August.
Illegal gambling financiers were back in business, said Tayaba.
He identified six areas with a “little resurgence” in illegal gambling activities – the towns of Lambunao, Dumangas, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, and Balasan, and the component city of Passi.
“I have instructed my police chiefs to continue their massive campaign against illegal gambling. We previously talked to the operators and financiers and they vowed to stop,” said Tayaba.
He identified three illegal gambling groups – the Adelantar group based in Janiuay town, the Hautea group based in Barotac Nuevo and the Peling group.
But according to SP member Domingo Oso, “Muslim groups” from Manila were also financiers of illegal gambling in this province.
“We have the names of the groups but we have to withhold these pending validation,” said Oso.
Tayaba confirmed that the IPPO had similar “raw” information and that these groups were reportedly operating in northern Iloilo in tandem with local illegal gambling operators.
During a visit to Iloilo City on Aug. 14, Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa of the Philippine National Police declared an “all-out war” against illegal gambling and warned lazy and corrupt police officials.
Addressing Western Visayas policemen during a program marking the 116th Police Service Anniversary in Camp Martin Delgado, Dela Rosa announced he was giving Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, regional police director, “full authority” to relieve city and provincial police directors.
“I am declaring an all-out war against illegal gambling. Non-performing policemen would be relieved (from their posts) and (held) administratively liable,” said Dela Rosa.
The tough-talking police general also warned scalawags in uniform such as those receiving protection money from illegal gambling operators.
“Sa mga pulis na gumagawa ng katiwalian, hindi po kayo makakalusot. Sisiguraduhin ko ‘yan,” he said.
Dela Rosa also gave city and provincial police directors the power to sack police chiefs who fail to eradicate illegal gambling in their turfs./PN
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